Oil-burning apparatus



Dec. 30, 1930. H. B. DQNLEY ET AL 1,786,832

OIL BURNING APPARATUS Filed sept. 4. 192e 75 Power like,

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Patented Dec. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD B. DONLY, AUGUSTUS J. FRAME, AND JACKSON G. GILMORE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNORS T0 FRANKLIN OIL HEATING, INCORPORATED, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO OIL-BURNING APPARATUS vApplication led September 4, 1928. Serial No. 303,672.

This invention relates to improvements in oil burning apparatus and in certain of its specific aspects is directed to burner apparatus of the type employed in c-onnection With the heating of buildings, residences and the like. In such apparatus use is made, in certain instances, of equipment comprising a burner structure formed to include an open topped vessel or receptacle into which liquid fuel is introduced and maintained at a predetermined level Within the vessel When the apparatus is in active operation, the fuel being suitably mixed With air or oxygen directed to the vessel above the fuel level therein'for the purpose of producing a highly combustible mixture Which will burn both efficiently and economically. In order` to supply the vessel With the liquid fuel for the purpose of maintaining such level use is made of an oil line or conduit which enters the vessel in or near the bottom of the latter. Due to the fact that apparatus of this character is intermittently operated, that is, active combustion takes place intermittently, considerable diculty has been encountered .in preventing the accumulation of carbon deposit or carbon encrustations onthe Walls of the oil conduit immediately adjacent to the zoneof entry of such conduit into the vessel. This is due perhaps to the fact that the fuel which remains in the bottom of the vessel following active operation, does not receive sufficient oxygen to support full and complete combustion of the remaining liquid fuel traces in the bottom of the vessel and in the adjacent portions of the oil line. In course of time suchcarbon deposit obstructs the oil line and prevents the proper and eective use of the apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary air duct or supply means leading from the main air duct to the oil line at a point preferably adjacent the pot or retort and certainly closer thereto than to the fuel valve so that during the overrun of lthe motor after closure of the fuel valve the auxiliary air Will function to expel the oil or 'a large portion thereof in the fuel line adjacent the pot or retort. Having 'a portion of the auxiliary air duct located beneath the oil line provides a species of sump into Which any oil remaining in the line near the pot 2 Will drain back and be removed from the zone of such heat as Would coke or carbonize this residue.

Y There are several methods of effecting pos` itively the removal of the oil from the oil supply line adjacent the vessel.A In the presentinstance, however, this is accomplished by the provision of an air line which may enter the liquid oil conveying conduit adjacent to the point Where the latter enters the burning vessel or combustion pot. The inlet side of the air line communicates With a source of air supply under pressure which consists usually of an air conveying conduit connected With a motor driven fan, said air conduit leading to the combustion vessel or pot so that in operation of the apparatus air under pressure may be intimately mixed for vaporization purposes With the air normally contained in said combustion vessel or pot. By this arrangement when the flow of fuel through the oil line or conduit has been arrested by the main control valve air continues to flow through said air line and into the oil line With the result that the oil accumulations which may be present at the point of entry of the oil line intothe combustion pot will be effectively and completely removed so that carbon cannot build up, obstruct the fuel line and interfere with the proper func-v tioning of the system.

With these and other objects in view which Will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arran ements of parts hereinafter to be fully descri ed and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a vievv in side elevation of the oil burning apparatus constructed in accordance With the present invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus set forth in Figure l,

Figure 3 is a vertical'sectional view on a larger scale disclosing more particularly the construction of the combustion pot and the oil and air lines leading thereto,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the control valve and its associated mechanism. v

The apparatus illustrated comprises broadly a combustion vessel or pot 2, the latter being arranged within the combustion chamber 3 of a furnace or other suitable type of heating unit 4. Leading to the pot 2 is an air conduit 5 which has its outer end disosed in communication with a motor driven an or blower 6. Also entering the bottom of the vessel or pot 2 is a liquid fuel line or conduit 7, within the air line 5, as shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4. This fuel line communicates with a main control valve 8, which in this instance is of the magnetically operated type and is disposed within `a circuit 9 which includes a source of energy 10 and a thermostatic switch 11. The control valve 8 and switch mechanism, which is disclosed and specifically claimed in the copending f application, Serial Number 17 5,293 and therefor-e not claimed herein consists of a solenoid arranged to open and close a valve opening in the valve body situated in the fuel line 7. The solenoid is also adapted to rock a mercury switch to a circuit opening and closing position for controlling the burner circuit for the motor of the blower 6.

It has been found desirable to maintain the blower 6 in operation -for a certain given period after the closing of the fuel control valve, in order that fuel which remains in the pot or burner is permitted to burn off with a sufficient amount of oxygen to support efficient combustion and to prevent a smoky burning condition. This is accomplished by an electrically heatedl warping bar so positioned with respect to the switch that after the current has been shut off by the thermostat 11, the mercury switch is held in its circuit closing position until the warping bar has cooled and become straightened allowing thevswitch to rock and open the circuit for the motor, as clearly illustrated by full and dotted lines in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The fuel line 7^is provided with a float 12 by means of which apre-determined liquid level is maintained Within the vessel or pot 2 when the apparatus is in active operation,

the fioat controlling automatically the flow of 4 fuel from a source of supply, such as a tank (not shown).

. The vessel or pot is provided with an open top and around the outer andV upper portion thereof the said vessel includes an annular flange 13 which is received within a sheet metal casing 14 formed to effect the elevated support of said vessel abovethe base or fioor line. The flange 13 is apertured as at 15 so as to permit of the passage of air therethrough, the casing 14 being in open communication with the inner or discharge end of the conduit 5 so that air may flow freely conduit and through the apertures 15 to commingle With the oil vapors released from the oil body which is normally maintained Within the vessel 2.

In this instance the vessel 2 includes a vertical and axially upstanding sleeve 16, in the upper end of which is situated an air distributor 17. This distributor comprises a tubular body provided with a head 18 and 19 at each end thereof. The lower head 19 is formed with apertures 20 which direct air jets or streams transversely within the vessel 2 for the purpose of effecting a oombustible mixture of efiicient proportions but to prevent the occurrence of active combustion of the oil within the confines of the vessel or pot. The air released from the apertures provided in the upper head 18 combines with the fuel mixture in a plane above the vessel or pot 2 and likewise so does the air dischargeda from the apertures 15 of the fiange 13. This arrangement provides for the economical and efficient consumption of liquid fuel and produces a system which operates effectively under relatively low air pressures and without atomization of the uel.

In this instance the bottom of the vessel or pot 2 is provided with an enlargement 21 in which is formed a bore 22, which communi- 'nected an' elbow fitting 24, the latter being connected with an air pipe 25. It will be observed that the outer portion of the air pipe extends in the same general direction and adjacent. to the fuel line 7 in a horizon.- tal plane below the line 7, and that the air pipe then terminates in an upwardly and angularly directed portion which enters an inverted Ushaped fitting 26, mounted on the top of the air conduit 5. The fitting -26 terminates within the confines of the conduit 5 so that the air fiowing through said conduit under the pressure of the blower 6 may enter the pipe line 25 so as to flow into the fuel line 7 It will be observed that thefuel .line 7 is slightly inclined in a downward and mains in the line between the fitting 23 and the bottom of the vessel or pot 2 use is made of the air line 25. vWhen the valve 8 is closed the operation of the motor is connveaeea eration ofthe motor is not of sulcient time to allow the burning of all the fuel in the pot and in the pipe line up to the fitting 23 and after the blower has stopped, the air pressure in the air pipe 25 is removed so that vthe liquid fuel disposed in-said fuel line between the fitting 23 and the bottom ofthey pot 2 may iiow back by gravity into the horiaontal sump or forwardlportion of the pipe 25, thus removing all liquid fuel from the zone of entry of the rfllel line into the vessel or pot 2,'which prevents thereby the formation of free carbon or hardened coke and carbon deposits on the walls of the fuel line entry into the pot, as would be apt to occur if the fuel were not completely and positively` removed. Further, during active operationthe air fromthe line 25 flows under pressure through the fuel arranged in the fuel line between the fitting 23 and the enlargement 21. This tends to agitate the` fuel vand hy' mechanical action to removel obstructing materials.

lt will be noted that We have located the point of entrance of the auxiliary air, duct through the oil line 7 at 23 adjacent the pot or retort 2 and much nearer thereto than to the valve 8. This is an important feature of our'invention' and insures that the resistance to the owof the air Afrom the auxiliary airiduct through the line 7 oiered by the oil in the line between 23 and the entrance to the pot 2 will be materially less thanthat presented by the oil between the` point 23 and valve 8.' Thi'sinsures that the auxiliary air will flow through the oil line into the' pot 2` rather than'backwardly. Since it is inconvenient to supply the valve 8 with a stuihng box orthe like due to the resistance which would thereby be oiiered toits movement, it

is highly desirable that the auxiliary air does r1the burner pot, in which case the motor discontinues its operation together with the shuty e fuel which is then ting o' of the valve 8. T y contained in the line between the pot and the Viitting 23 will How into thesump immediately upon the stopping ofthe syste 'llhe sump can, of course, be used'with-rnany dierent arrangements not requiring the employment of the mercury switch for cont-rollingl the motor vdriven blower independent of the operation of the fuel control valve,.the tiret described method of operation' being, however, the most desirable. c

ln view of the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a'simple, elhcient and durable burner structure wherein the bur-ner may operate silently and with the use of a simplilied mechanical apparatus.

The sustained operation of the burneris insured by the provision of the air line 25 which serves to provide a sump permitting ofthe positive removal of lfuel from the high temperature zone around the point of inlet of the fuel line into the combustion pot. By rer moving the fuel from this high temperature zone combustion is prevented and the line is kept in a free and open condition.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pot, means to supply oil thereto comprising a duct, a valve therefor, air supply means communicating with said pot and ,including a fan, a motor actuating said fan,

means comprising a branch duct connecting said air supply means and said oil duct ata point between the dischargeend of the latter and said valve adjacentsaid discharge end and nearer thereto than to said valve, and means to continue `said motor in operation for a desired period of time after the closure lofl said valve, whereby oil in said duct between the point of connection oflsaid branch duct therewith and said pot will be discharged into said pot.

2. Apparatus of the-class described comi prising a pot, means to supply oil theretol comprisinga duct, a valve therefor, air supply means communicating with said pot and including a fan, a motor actuating said fan, means comprising abranch duct connecting said air supply means and said oil duct ata point between the discharge end of the latter and nearer thereto than to said valve, andmeans to continue said motor in operation for a desired per1od of time after the closure of said valve, whereby oilin said duct between "the point of connection of. said branch duct therewith and said pot will -be discharged into said pot, said branch. duct having a portion thereof lower than said fuel duct adjacent ,its communication therewith whereby oil may drain from said fuel line into said branch duct upon cessation of operation of said fan.

ln testimony whereof we affix our signa- Hannan n. UoNLnv.

AUGUSTUS J. renna. .mensen e. ena/ione.

tures. 

